Rag doll with changeable features

ABSTRACT

A child&#39;&#39;s rag doll characterized by the provision of a plurality of panels with different simulated facial expressions thereon, with the panels being hingedly connected to the doll and, further characterized by the provision of a means for holding the panels in an upper position, overlying the doll face, and a lower position, overlying the doll torso.

United States Patent [191 Glass et a1.

RAG DOLL WITH CHANGEABLE FEATURES Inventors: Marvin 1. Glass; Kathy A.Dunn,

both of Chicago, 111. Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates,

Chicago, 111.

Filed: July 6, 1972 Appl. No.: 269,459

Related US. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 119,121,Feb. 26, 1971, abandoned.

US. Cl. 46/135 R, 46/158 Int. Cl A63h 3/12 Field of Search 46/135, 151,156, 158

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1913 Lombra 46/153 [451 May21,1974

2,199,049 4/1940 Greenberg 46/ l 64 Primary Examiner-Antonio F. GuidaAssistant ExaminerRobert F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Coffee &Sweeney [57] ABSTRACT A childs rag doll characterized by the provisionof a plurality of panels with different simulated facial expressionsthereon, with the panels being hingedly connected tothe doll and,further characterized by the provision of a means for holding the panelsin an upper position, overlying the doll face, and a lower position,overlying the doll torso.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED M21 I974 SHEET 1 [1F 3 L81 1; 220PATENTEDIA i 3 SHEET 3 0F 3 an I 7.. an

M I'l RAG DOLL WITH CHANGEABLE FEATURES RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to toydevices and more partic ularly to an improvement in a rag doll.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art There are many forms of dollsprovided for the enjoyment of children. In recent years there has been atrend towards providing dolls with simulated human characteristicsbeyond the mere ability to simulate a cry or the like. Also, there havebeen many improvements in the provision of dolls which have anassociated wardrobe for changing the clothes that the doll is wearing atthe desire of the child who possesses the doll.

Rag dolls have long been available in the art and possess the advantageof being relatively soft and yieldable so as to feel comfortable,particularly to younger chil dren who may wish to clutch the doll closeto themselves during periods of play or sleep. Different wardrobes maybe provided for rag dolls so that the children can dress rag dollsaccording to their own desires, but extremely young children usuallyhave difficulty in keeping track of play accessories and separate itemsof the dolls apparel may be easily lost or misplaced b such youngchildren.

It is the object of this invention to provide an improved rag dollhaving means for changing the representation of the doll, which means ispermanently associated with the doll and, portions of which may be heldin different positions of display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to theprovision of an improved rag doll wherein the facial expression may bechanged at the individual whim of the possessor of the doll, with themeans for changing the facial expression being permanently associatedwith the doll.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the inventionincludes the provisionof a rag doll with the usual softly stuffed body.The doll is provided with a plurality of face panels which are hingedlyconnected to the doll body so that they may be moved from a positionwhere they generally occupy the front of the head portion of the doll,to a position wherein they overlie the lower portion of the do ll.Thelower torso portion of the doll is provided with a pouch-like area forreceiving certain face panels. Thus, in use, if a child selects theexpression on one of the intermediate face panels, he may fold down theface panels in the lower pouch so that the intermediate face panel isexposed to view, and at the same time, masks fromview the remaining facepanels therebehind.

In another mode of this invention the face panels are provided withsimulated garment representations on the opposite side thereof. Thepanels have an outwardly extending loop and a button is provided at thetop and the bottom of the doll body for securement of the panels in anupper or lower position by fastening the loop about one of the buttons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thedoll of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the face panels foldedoutwardly to simulate the process of selecting a desired face panel forview;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged front view of the doll of thisinvention; partially broken away in section;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a section view taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the doll of thisinvention;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the panels folded outwardly;and

FIG. 9 is a vertical section view through the doll shown in FIGS. 7 and8.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail different embodiments therefor, with theunderstanding that thepresent disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of theprinciples of the invention and is not intended to limit the inventionto the embodiments illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring initially toFIGS. 1 through 6, the doll 10 of this invention includesa pair ofsimulated legs 12 and simulated arms 14 which are attached to a body,generally indicated 16. The body includes a lower torso portion 18 andan upper or head portion 20. Simulated braids or pigtails 20a may extendfrom the head 20.

Generally speaking, the body 16 includes a rear fabric panel 22 having adownturned top portion 22a, and upturned bottom portion 22b, andinturned sides 22c and 22d. The body 16 further includes a front fabrictorso panel 24 which has an upturned bottom 24a closely spaced from theupturned bottom 22b; a rearwardly returned medial tab 24b intermediatethe ends of the body 16 and inturned side portions 240 and 24d, closelyspaced from the inturned sides 22c and 22d of the rear panel 22.

The body 16 further includes a front fabric head panel 26 having adownturned top 26a closely spaced from downturned top 22a of rear panel22; a rearwardly returned medial tab 26b closely spaced from tab 24b;and inturned sides 26c and 26dclosely spaced from inturned sides 22c and22d of the rear panel 22. As will be explained, the panels 22, 24 and 26are secured together and generally define an enclosure which may beprovided with suitable stuffing or padding 28 of a soft material, suchas a foam plastic or cotton or the like, to provide a soft somewhatflexible and somewhat resilient body of a nature characteristic of ragdolls in general. The securement of the front head panel 26 and bottomportions 24a and 22b, respectively, is schematically illustrated by aline of stitching 32. Similarly, the securement of the front head panel26 and rear panel 22 at the inturned side portions 26c, 26d and 22c and22d, respectively, is schematically illustrated by lines of stitching34a and 34b, while the securement of the front torso panel 24 and rearpanel 22 at the area of inturned sides 24c and 24d and 22c and 22d,respectively, is schematically illustrated by the lines of stitching 34cand 34d, respectively. It is to be understood that any suitablefastening means may be provided for securing the fabric panels togetherin the areas indicated, and it is to be further understood that thestitching lines shown in the drawings are only schematic representationsthereof.

The head 20 of the doll is provided with a generally U-shaped hoodmember 36 having a downtumed top portion 36 positioned between portions26a'and 22a and secured therebetween by the line of stitching 30. Inaddition, the hood member 36 has inturned sides 36b and 360 positionedbetween inturned sides 22c, 26c and 22d and 26d, respectively, andsecured thereto by line of stitching 34a, 34b. The U-shaped hood member36 overhangs a portion of the upper head panel 26 and, in combinationtherewith, forms a U shaped peripheral pocket 38 around the edge of thehead portion 20.

The doll is further provided with a plurality of face panels 40, 42, 44and 46 and 48, each of which has a rearwardly turned tab portion 40a,42a, 44a, 46a and 48a, respectively, secured between the portions 24b oflower torso panel and 26b of upper head panel by suitable means, such asthe schematic represented line of stitching 49. The securement by meansof the schematically represented stitching line, or other suitablemeans, permanently affixes the different face panels 40, 42, 44, 46 and48 to the doll, yet mounts the same in a fashion so that they areswingablyor hingedly connected to the doll for movement between an upperposition, where they generally overlie the head panel 26, to a lowerposition where they generally overlie the lower torso portion 24.

Each of the different panels 40 may be provided with means simulatingdifferent facial expressions. For example, as illustrated in thedrawings, the face panel 42 may. have a simulated smiling mouth 42b andsimulated eyes 42c and 42d. Similarly, the next underlying panel 44 mayhave different simulated facial expression as represented by the mouth44b and the eyes 44c and 44d and so on. If desired, even the head panel26 could be provided with a simulated facial expression as well.

The doll of this invention further includes a lower torso flap panel 52having an upturned lower end 520 i positioned between the upturned ends24a and 22b of the bodypanels and secured there-between by the stitchingline 32. The flap panel 52 generally overlies the front lower torsopanel 24 and is open at the top thereof and combines with the torsopanel 24 to provide a face panel receiving pouch 56. Panel 52 is spacedsufficiently far from panel 24 so as to be capable of retaining all ofthe face panels therein. Panel 52 also is provided with inturned sides52b and 52c held lated belt 58 which generally spans the front of panel52 between the outstretched arms 14. Simulated belt 2 58 has an inturnedend 58a also received between inturned portions 22c and 240 and securedthereto by means of a simulated line of stitching 340. At the oppositeend, the belt 58 is provided with snap fastening means 60 which mayengage a mating component 60a fastened to the top of panel 52, toreleasably secure to the belt to the panel as desired.

In use, the several movable face panels 40 through 48 may be retainedunder the pocket 38 afforded by the U-shaped hood member 36. As a childdesires to present a difierent facial expression to view, the child maymove the desired panels 40 through 48 and tuck them in the pouch 56until the desired face panel is exposed to view within its confinementin the U-shaped pocket 38 on head portion 20. The face panels receivedwithin the pocket 56 may be secured therein by means of the belt 58 andthe snap-fastening arrangement 60 so that only the face panel desired tobe seen will-be exposed to view, with remaining face panels eitherbehind the one exposed to view, or held within the pouch 56.

FIGS. 7-9 show a modified embodiment of the doll of this application.Referring to these figures, the doll is similar to that disclosed inFIGS. 1-6 with the general difference being that the face panels areprovided with different decorative portions on their opposite sides soas to change the appearance of the rag doll in its simulatedtorso-portion after each panel has been folded downwardly to expose thenext face panel.

Specifically, doll 110 is also provided with simulated legs 112 andsimulated arms 114 which are attached to the body portion, generallyindicated 116. The body portion 116 includes the lower torsoportion 118and an upper or head portion 120.

Generally speaking, the body 116 includes an enclosure 121 defined bythe substantially ovoid enveloping sheet fabric panel 122. Enclosure 121includes a back portion 122a a downwardly returned head portion 1221),and an upwardly returned torso portion 1220. The head portion l22bterminates in an inwardly returned tab portion 123a and the torsoportion 122c terminates in an inwardly returned tab portion 123bparallel to, and spaced away from, tab 123a. The enclosure or hollowinterior 121 defined by the enveloping panel 122 is filled with asuitable stuffing material 124 such as cotton, foam plastic or the like,or any other suitable material used with dolls of this type.

A plurality of decorative panels, such as 128, and

132, are hingedly connected to the doll body 116. Preferably each panelhas opposed faces 128a and 1281:; 130a, 130b; 132a 132b; with the afaces of each panel simulating a facial expression and the b faces ofeach panel simulating a garment. Furthermore, it is intended that theportions 122b and 122c of the shell covering would be generallycoextensive in configuration and that the panels 128-130 and 132 wouldbe of a size and shape to substantially overlie and cover these panelportions 122k and 1220. Each of the panels 128, 130 and 132 is heldbetween the tab portions 123a and 123b by suitable means such as a linestitching 134, to thereby hingedly connect the panels 128, 130 and 132to the general mid-portion of the body 116 for movement between an upperposition, overlying the head portion, to a lower position overlying thetorso portion.

Each panel 128, 130 and 132 is further provided with a first means forfastening the panel in either of an upper or lower position. Preferablythis first means takes the form of a loop 1280, 1300, and 1320,respectively, which extends outwardly from the periphery of each panel.The body 116 is provided with a second means for fastening the panels ineither of the aforementioned positions with the second means preferablytaking the form of an upper button 136 located at the upper portion ofrear panel 122a and a lower button 138 which is connected to the lowerportion of the rear panel 122a. Each of these buttons provides a meansfor securing the loops 128e, 1300, and 132C when the panels are eitherin the upper or lower positions.

Thus it can be seen that by means of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-9movement of the several panels from the upper to lower positions willnot only change the facial configuration of the doll but will alsochange the simulated garment or apparel representation of the doll. Withthis arrangement, the child may not only fantisize with respect to thedifferent facial expressions of the doll, but also with respect to thedifferent garments being worn. Furthermore, the structure shown in FIGS.7-9 provides a simplified arrangement for holding the panels in eitherthe upper or lower positions.

Thus, the doll of this invention provides a means for changing thephysical appearance of the doll, by providing different decorativepanels. However, the means is permanently associated with the doll, inthat the face panels are secured therein by suitable means, such as aline of stitching, so that they may be moved between a position whereinthey overlie the head portion, to a position wherein they may bereceived within a pouch overlying the torso portion. Thus, there is nolikelihood of a child losing the different panels which may be presentedto view, since they will be always permanently affixed with the doll.Not only may the simulated apparel and facial expressions of the doll bechanged, but it is also possible to make the doll become representativeof different characters by means of the face panels. For example, thedifferent face panels could have different simulated animal faces suchas a cat, a dog, a lion, and the like.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in theart.

We claim: 1. A doll comprising: shell means secured together defining anenclosure;

stuffing material in said enclosure and substantially filling theenclosure to define a generally self supporting doll body;

said doll body including a head portion and a torso portion;

a plurality of decorative panels hinged to said body generallyintermediate said head and torso portions for movement between a firstposition, overlying at least part of said head portion, and a secondposition, overlying at least part of said torso portion;

said panels having opposite sides with facial features on one side ofeach panel and oriented for exposure to view when each panel is in saidfirst position and simulated garment features on the opposite side ofeach panel and oriented for exposure to view when each panel is in saidsecond position; and

means for releasably retaining said panels in said first position.

, 2. The doll of claim 1 wherein said panels generally are of a size andshape to substantially cover the front of said head portion.

3. The doll of claim 2 wherein said panels generally are of a size andshape to substantially cover the front of said torso portion.

4. The doll of claim 3 wherein the front of said head portion and saidbody portion generally are of the same size and shape.

1. A doll comprising: shell means secured together defining anenclosure; stuffing material in said enclosure and substantially fillingthe enclosure to define a generally self supporting doll body; said dollbody including a head portion and a torso portion; a plurality ofdecorative panels hinged to said body generally intermediate said headand torso portions for movement between a first position, overlying atleast part of said head portion, and a second position, overlying atleast part of said torso portion; said panels having opposite sides withfacial features on one side of each panel and oriented for exposure toview when each panel is in said first position and simulated garmentfeatures on the opposite side of each panel and oriented for exposure toview when each panel is in said second position; and means forreleasably retaining said panels in said first position.
 2. The doll ofclaim 1 wherein said panels generally are of a size and shape tosubstantially cover the front of said head portion.
 3. The doll of claim2 wherein said panels generally are of a size and shape to substantiallycover the front of said torso portion.
 4. The doll of claim 3 whereinthe front of said head portion and said body portion generally are ofthe same size and shape.